Question of the day

fru·gal [froo-guhl]
–adjective
1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.


gen·er·ous [jen-er-uhs]
–adjective
1. liberal in giving or sharing; unselfish: a generous patron of the arts; a generous gift.
2. free from meanness or smallness of mind or character; magnanimous.


Is it possible to be both?

(In my vision of an ideal world, the answer is a resounding YES.)

Please weigh in.

Comments

Anonymous said…
This is my first and last comment on your blog, because I have a life.
Are you kidding me? Who cares.
December 18, 2006 8:36 PM
Anonymous said…
he means that in the kindest way.
December 18, 2006 8:45 PM
Emily said…
I'm feeling the love, Mark! Spoken like a true cheapskate. (Just kidding.)
December 18, 2006 8:50 PM
lys said…
TWO WORDS: Amy Adams
December 18, 2006 9:00 PM
amyegodfrey said…
Fun to see Mark commenting!
Yes, it's possible, although we tend to be either/or.
December 18, 2006 10:25 PM
Neil and Diana said…
Frugal of the wallet does not preclude one from being generous of the heart.
December 19, 2006 6:30 AM
Emily said…
Alyssa, I thought of Amy, too, when I wrote this.

Mom, you are decidely in the latter category as one of the most generous people I know.

Diana, but what about generous of the wallet and frugal of the wallet?
December 19, 2006 7:58 AM
Anonymous said…
One can be wallet-frugal with trivial, self-serving things and wallet-generous with important, philanthropic things.
December 19, 2006 9:32 AM
Emily said…
What about these scenarios:

--Choose a less expensive restaurant, but tip 20%.

--Add a "charity fund" to the budget, and let it flow freely to other people until it's gone.

--When something free comes your way, do not try to turn it for a profit.

All of you above commenters are very good at all of this and I have benefited enormously from your generosity. I've just been frustrated lately by incidents of miserliness, and I'm turning to the Blog for a little free therapy session (because I'm frugal!)
December 19, 2006 9:44 AM
Anonymous said…
Emily, you're a good example of the combo. For example, paying off law school loans so quickly, but also finding it in your heart to send a few bucks to your sister who was living off of carrots and cracked wheat.
December 19, 2006 11:07 AM
Emily said…
Abby, anyone who "can't afford apples" gets an automatic contribution towards the grocery cause.

Thanks for the compliment.
December 19, 2006 12:05 PM
AmyJune said…
Very fascinating subject. As you know I try to be very frugal but I never want to be a cheapskate. For example, I always try to be very generous with tips. I clip coupons and buy food on sale to save money so I can invite families over for Sunday dinner. I buy fabric and ribbon really cheap downtown and then sew a lot of birthday/baby/christmas gifts. Thus cheap from the wallet but generous with the time it takes to create the presents.
December 19, 2006 2:26 PM
Suzie Petunia said…
To be generous IN SPIRIT is very cheap, financially speaking. But I guess everyone has already covered this topic. The thing is... it is impossible to "fake it". I think we all thought of AmyJune right off! :)
December 19, 2006 11:35 PM
Anonymous said…
for the record, I believe it is standard to tip 20% these days. Ask any waiter.
December 20, 2006 8:43 AM
Anonymous said…
what if you're only getting the salad bar?
December 20, 2006 1:43 PM
Anonymous said…
20% if you enjoy the depression-era-targeted buffet and you are related to the waiter.
December 20, 2006 8:01 PM
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